Designing the Perfect Fitness Routine
By Donna Stark
After being told over and over again that daily exercise is key to good health and a long life, you are finally ready to bite the bullet and start the process. But exercise can be pretty tricky, can't it? You may be asking yourself whether you should begin with sessions led by a certified trainer or venture out and try to navigate the world of fitness on your own? And if you do go out on your own, you may be wondering what exercises are the best. From high-impact to low-impact to no-impact workouts there are plenty to choose from, but what's the difference between them all? And how do you know which is the right one to go with?
High-Impact Exercises
High-impact workouts are exactly as you imagine them to be. They are intense, involve more direct force on the body, and will burn a lot of your energy faster than the other two workouts. When you think about these forms of workouts, picture running, cross-fit training, and cardio-based aerobic classes. These workouts are great for increasing your bone strength, heart rate, and calorie-loss but over time, they can place excessive strain on the body and are prone to injuries.
Low-Impact Exercises
Low-impact exercises are those that are gentler on the body, where at least one foot is always on the ground. They are helpful with increasing weight loss, improving cardiovascular health, and restoring mobility. Since they involve less stress on your joints than high-impact workouts do, the risk of injury is reduced. Examples of low-impact workouts include yoga and walking.
No-Impact Exercises
Just like it says, these types of exercises involve no impact to your joints. These are by far the safest to participate in and are often used by fitness newbies, those with medical conditions, and those who are coming back from an injury, but that doesn't mean you still can't get a serious workout in. From swimming to cycling to tai chi, there are plenty of different intensity levels you can choose from.
Beginning a New Chapter
If you are on the fence between any two of the above and have no medical conditions to worry about, don't worry! You can combine the best of both worlds. Remember, you are in control here and you have the last say in how you want your fitness program to look, so choose what works best for you. And who knows? You may become so good at fitness that you won't need that certified trainer after all!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Brentwood, Tenn.